Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships

Lead strategy, governance & partnerships that deliver community aspirations
- Southland District's voice is heard through advocacy, innovation & engagement
- Drive futures thinking to grow our stunning district in a dynamic environment

**About Southland District Council**

As stewards for 11% of the total land area of Aotearoa New Zealand, including the outstanding beauty of Fiordland Stewart Island Rakiura National Parks together with more than 30 unique communities, Southland District Council (Council) manages the largest land area of any New Zealand territorial authority.

With a commitment to working together with our communities for our communities, Council is in the middle of an environment of change. We have multiple local government reform programmes on the go, changes to key pieces of legislation that govern how we do things and a range of other external factors which are creating challenges in how we balance the cost of doing business, with enabling the growth and resilience of our communities. To meet these challenges, our focus across the organisation is on innovation, partnerships and the agility to adapt in this environment. As well, we need to ensure we deliver on our promises to our communities and provide an exceptional customer experience which makes doing business with Council easy. To this end we have created a new leadership structure.

The team of 200+ Council staff are diverse in their backgrounds, skillsets and locations, and spread across three Invercargill offices and seven library/offices throughout the district. This ensures ease of connecting with the communities and the customers. Our team is our biggest asset and we are dedicated to putting people and place at the heart of all we do.

To support this shift in focus, we are looking for a talented Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships to deliver Council’s vision through leading strategy and developing enduring relationships. Interested?

**Why we love Southland**

Southland is more than a location; it's a place of opportunity. As a Southland resident, you can choose a lifestyle that works for you. Be it rural, city or anything in between, the options are endless. We have some of the most affordable real estate in the country. Your down time will see you engaging with options for a plethora of recreational pursuits - hiking in breathtaking landscapes, enjoying lakes or beaches, leveraging world-class sports facilities or immersing yourself in a vibrant cultural scene marked by festivals, events, and activities or simply listening to the bird song This multifaceted environment, complemented by diverse industries and superior educational options, empowers you to optimise your professional pursuits while savouring life's finer moments.

The brevity of your commutes, whether to work or your child's school event, or an enriching experience at any of the acclaimed cafes, galleries or parks, underscores the unmatched convenience. Moreover, in a mere two hours, you can transition from the slopes of a ski resort to the heart of lush wilderness or the attractions of a larger metropolis. This district is a true jewel in the crown of Aotearoa, New Zealand - join us in paradise

**About the opportunity**

The Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships joins a newly established and aligned leadership team, reporting directly to the Kaihautū (Chief Exectutive) and leads a team of six direct reports across the strategy, communication and engagement, governance and policy areas.

As the Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships, you will:

- Develop and lead the strategic direction, frameworks, and policies that guide Council’s future readiness and service delivery for community needs
- Provide “thought leadership”, business advice and policy analysis that ensures decision making processes are informed and robust when forming futures strategies for our district
- Drive sound governance structures, fostering engagement with elected members, enabling informed decision-making and community-focused outcomes
- Forge and cultivate strategic partnerships across government agencies, other local authorities and communities, ensuring Council’s strong positioning and advocacy for change agendas
- Manage strategic projects that will benefit our district
- Lead customer-centric innovation and service excellence, ensuring high performance and cohesive collaboration throughout the organisation
- Foster a culture of health, safety, and wellbeing and high-performing teams through coaching, development, and inspirational leadership

This is an exceptional opportunity to bring your diverse experience and capability together to make a real difference in the governance of Southland and provide meaningful service to these communities.

**About you**

To be successful as the Group Manager Strategy and Partnerships, you will hold a relevant tertiary qualification and you will have developed your career as a leader and executive ideally working and engaging w